Semantic Structures (Current Studies in Linguistics)

Semantic Structures is a large-scale study of conceptual structure and its lexical and syntactic expression in English that builds on the system of Conceptual Semantics described in Ray Jackendoff's earlier books Semantics and Cognition and Consciousness and the Computational Mind. Jackendoff summarizes the relevant arguments in his two previous books, setting out the basic parameters for the formalization of meaning, and comparing his mentalistic approach with Fodor's Language of Thought hypothesis. He then takes up the Problem of Meaning, extending the range of semantic fields encompassed by the Conceptual Semantics formalism, and the Problem of Correspondence, formalizing the relation between semantic and syntactic structure. Both of these problems must be fully addressed in order to develop a general theory of language that is concerned with syntax and semantics and their points of connection. Few books on lexical semantics present such a comprehensive analysis of such a wide range of phenomena from a unified perspective. Besides discussing the conceptual structures of hundreds of words and constructions, Jackendoff extends and deepens the theory to come to grips with such crucial issues as Θ-roles and Θ-marking; arguments, modifiers, and adjuncts; binding and control; and the thematic linking hierarchy. Ray Jackendoff is Chairman of the Program in Linguistics and Cognitive Science at Brandeis University.

[spoiler=CONTENTS]
Series Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
Part I Basic Machinery
Chapter 1 Overview of Conceptual Semantics 7
1.1 E-Concepts and I-Concepts 7
1.2 First Principles of I-Conceptual Knowledge 8
1.3 Three Models for the Description of Meaning 11
1.4 Organization of the Grammar 16
1.5 Intuitions about Lexical Relations 19
1.6 X-Bar Semantics 22
1.7 Where Traditional Features Fail 32
1.8 Appendix: Lexical Composition versus Meaning Postulates 37
Chapter 2 Argument Structure and Thematic Roles 43
2.1 Basic Function-Argument Structures 43
2.2 The Status of Thematic Roles 46
2.3 Argument Fusion and Selectional Restrictions 50
2.4 Restrictive Modification 55
Chapter 3 Multiple Thematic Roles for a Single NP 59
3.1 The Status of the q-Criterion 59
3.2 Argument Binding 61
3.3 On So-Called Syntactic Binding 64
3.4 Appendix: Thematic Conditions on Control 68
Chapter 4 Unifying Lexical Entries 71
4.1 Optional Outer Functions 72
4.2 Multiple Argument Structures 76
4.3 Remarks 81
Part II Mostly on the Problem of Meaning
Chapter 5 Some Further Conceptual Functions 87
5.1 Introduction to Part II 87
5.2 Verbs of Manner of Motion and Configuration 88
5.3 Inchoative 91
5.4 Kinds of Conceptual Clause Modification 95
Chapter 6 Some Featural Elaborations of Spatial Functions 101
6.1 Distributive Location 101
6.2 Verbs of Touching 106
6.3 Verbs of Attachment 112
6.4 Verbs of Material Composition 116
6.5 Conclusion(s) 122
Chapter 7 The Action Tier and the Analysis of Causation 125
7.1 The Roles Actor and Patient; the Action Tier 125
7.2 Varieties of Causation 130
7.3 Varieties of Dyadic Interaction; the Role Beneficiary 133
7.4 Temporal Relations between the Cause and the Effect 138
7.5 Extensions of Force-Dynamics to Logical Verbs and Psych-Verbs 139
7.6 The Role Instrument; Unifying the Uses of Hit 142
7.7 Argument Binding in Force-Dynamic Verbs 145
7.8 Appendix: Lexical versus Periphrastic Causatives 150
Part III Mostly on the Problem of Correspondence
Chapter 8 Adjuncts That Express an Incorporated Argument 155
8.1 Introduction to Part III 155
8.2 Fill and Cover 159
8.3 Butter, Powder, Water, Ice, and Frost 164
8.4 Empty, Uncover, and Skin 166
8.5 Bottle, Pocket, and Package 170
8.6 Load, Spray, Pack, Stuff, Clear, and Drain 171
8.7 Obligatory Adjuncts: Rid, Provide, Present, Deprive, Swarm, and Teem 174
8.8 The Passive by-Phrase 179
Chapter 9 Adjuncts That Express an Argument of a Modifying Conceptual Clause 183
9.1 Three Kinds of For-Adjuncts 183
9.2 The Conceptual Structure of the For's of Beneficiary and Benefit; the Instrumental 185
9.3 Buy, Pay, and Sell 189
9.4 The For-Exchange Adjunct Rule 191
9.5 ''For-Dative" and "To-Dative" Adjuncts 194
9.6 Depictive Predication 200
9.7 Appendix: Control in Gerundive Secondary Predicates 207
Chapter 10 Adjuncts That Express Arguments of a Superordinate Conceptual Clause 211
10.1 Babe Ruth Homered His Way into the Hearts of America 211
10.2 Alternative Approaches to the Way-Construction 218
10.3 Willy Jumped into Harriet's Arms 223
10.4 Charlie Laughed Himself Silly 225
10.5 An Alternative Treatment of Resultatives 235
10.6 Final Remarks on Adjuncts 241
Chapter 11 Toward a Theory of Linking 245
11.1 The Notion of Linking Rules 245
11.2 What Conceptual Semantics Can Do for Linking Theory 247
11.3 What Linking Theory Can Do for Conceptual Semantics 249
11.4 Digression: What Is Left of Subcategorization? 255
11.5 Refining the Thematic Hierarchy 257
11.6 Factoring Argument Fusion 262
11.7 Linking Non-NP Arguments 264
11.8 The Subject and the External Argument 267
11.9 Incorporating Most of the Adjunct Rules 269
11.10 Depictive Predication Again 275
11.11 Summary 278
11.12 Appendix: Restatement of the Rest of the Adjunct Rules 279
Epilogue Compositionality, Autonomy, Modularity 283
Notes 289
References 303
Index of Words Discussed 311
Index 317

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